The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-12-30

Apbleshty. ne bhOugnt a zeEt wOuiQ
come back, but somehow it did not.
Helooked back at times upon that ep-
sode In his life which had made all this
uiiference-this break which did not
promise everto be wholly bridged over
with almost q fury Of resentment.
It CALLED him to the quick to acknowl-
edge that the treachery OF a mere hol-
low woman OF the world should have
laid his life barren in this way. He
had gotten to feel that he had lost all
reverence for her sex through her.
She had lowered his whole standard.
There were occasions when he told
himself that if he despised her less he
would hate her for the wrong she had
done him.
A friend OF his who knew the figure
Of the Maskelyne estate with ap proxi
mate accuracy and who had a marri
ageable sister tookhim to his mothers
house ene day and int a him.
Mrs. Lethbrldge's house was homelike
in an eminent degree, and Maskelyne
liked Lethbridge, even though be was
conscious OF no special admirationfcr
his sister. He returned there several
times, as much as anything from
want OF other interest. Once he walk
ed up town with Lethbridge and en-
tering on his invitation he passed in
the hall a slight young girl in black.
The light was rather dim; it was at
the close Of the afternoon; the gas
was not yet lighted, and he only saw
her face when she was close upon the
two men. Then, however, he saw 1t
distinctly and she raised her startled
eyes to his.
Lethbridge had sprung forward and
| opened the door for her. She went
rapidly out with a slight inclination
OF the head. Lethbridge had aheight-
ened color on his face.
When they had gone back into the
library Maskelyne, standing with his
back to the light, said:
"That lady who passed out looks
astonishingly like a Miss Flora
Wade"
1T is a Miss Wade.p Lethbridge
took up a book and laid it down
again. "She is a nursery governess to
two OF my younger sisters"
1.-THE Miss Wade who was out West
a few years ago." said Maskelyne,
alter a pause, twas an h~eiress."
Flora Wade was an heiress until q
year ago-yes. I suppose you have
heard the story?"
"0ut on the frontier one hears moth
ing" said Maskelyne, dryly.
"No? Well, it was nothing new.
Wade made his money by a lucky
stroke, you know, or a series of lucky
strokes, and he lost it by one unlucky
one. Then he blew his brains out,
more than anything else, / suspect,
because there were welkfounded sus-
picious that all his transactions had
not been perfectly legitimate. The
two girls were with an aunt. Miss
Wade had been taken abroad, ana
had refused, it was understood, a du.
cal eor0net, For two ason sne
led everything before her. When
the change came she left
the aunt, whose health had suddenly
lin consequence of these changesl be-
Gosrlu zoo driirst5 q 6ifv app0f EIfdi
care of two young girls. Miss Wade
had had a brilliant education, but,
passed under review with reference to
such elements in it as could be turned
TO practical account, it appeared that
there was very little Miss Wade could
do to support herself and her young
sister. She could be. a nurserygovern-
ess, however, and that is what she is
now"
There was a silence between the two
men.
Allen Lethbridge took, hesitatingIy,
q step forward.
81 dent aeiea telling s.ea = he said
leaning his arm against the mantel,
ssthat / have an immense admiration
for Flora Wade. ii she viii marfT me
she shall be my wife"
The door opened, admitting Mrs,
Lethbridge and her Oldest daughter.
ooh Mr.. Maskelyne, / hope you will
stay to dinner with u.s." cried the La
ly Hospitality.
'aThanks. am sorry. / have an
engagement"
Maskelyne went out, and the en-
gagement proved q roaming OF the
streets until far into the night.
Against the conjunction pleading
lin all his nerves for Flora, awaking
and throbbing with the opening of
wound he had thought cicatrized and
quiescenr, he had arrayed fierce argu-
ments cut OF the elements of scorn
and resentment he had been harbor-
ing and accommodating through these
Tour years past in his soul. What if
misfortune had fallen upon herr
Would that change herr Would that
make q true woman in a day OF one
who hitherto had lived only for the
flimsy vanities Of the world and her
own s~elf-loveg Why, no kept urging
upon himself. brutally, she had seem
ed blooming enough when he caught
that one glimpse Of her in Mrs. Leth-
bridges hall. She was not changed
so very much in appearance by mis-
fortune as might be expected. It was
proper, OF course, chat She should
look d little demure and depressed.
She was q good actress and she
would be likely to play her part well.
~ !. .u.M A. ". - s.4ttAfa kAa -